Disturbing drugging and sexual assault allegations follow famed chef Mario Batali after a former employee made new claims against him. A woman who used to work for Batali claims that he drugged and sexually assaulted her at one of his New York City restaurants in a third-floor room labeled the “rape room” by employees. The woman was interviewed on “60 Minutes” and detailed the assault where she woke up at his restaurant in the room and realized she was drugged and then assaulted. Before this claim, nearly ten other women described sexual harassment and toxic behavior by Mario Batali at the workplace, which prompted the ABC program, “The Chew,” to drop him from the show. Current business partners state that they have been steadily removing him from business operations and shifting responsibilities to Nancy Silverton and equally renown chef Lidia Bastianich since December.
Sexual harassment in the form of words and intimidation at work leaves victims feeling powerless and may affect their ability to work. When sexual violence enters the picture, the devastation it brings victims escalates to disturbing proportions and could affect the victim in physical, mental, and emotional ways. Neither one is acceptable or warranted in the workplace and may disrupt the victims’ lives forever.
If you suspect you are a victim of sexual harassment or abuse in the workplace, contact our Philadelphia employment lawyers at Sidney L. Gold & Associates, P.C. at 215-569-1999 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. For decades we have been representing victims of employment discrimination and harassment and will not rest until our clients receive the justice they deserve.
